Page 105 of Risk

I don’t think he’s talking to me.

“I hope they see I did what was right and maybe follow in my footsteps.”

He’s definitely not talking to me.

“I hope they’re happy.” His voice cracks. “I want them to find their person. Like I’ve found mine.” He clears his throat again, and the atmosphere gets a little lighter. “God damn woman, I’m so glad I found you.”

“Took you long enough.”

“Right?”

We drive in quiet comfort out of the city madness. New beginnings can also be happy endings, I suppose. And I’m here for all of it.

“We still should celebrate.” The city whirrs past us. “Tonight was a good night. Messy, but good.”

“What do you have in mind, Princess?”

I open the map app and get us directions to a bakery. “It doesn’t have hours listed.”

“It’s probably closed, but let’s see.” Mason zips through the streets and barely slows down at the stop signs. I hop out of the car and dash to the door. It’s locked. Damnit!

I strongly recommend bakeries be a twenty-four-seven convenience for those who need a little sweetness in their life. Everyone needs cake—they’re the universal greatness. Want to celebrate? Eat cake. Just broke up with your red flag boyfriend? Cake. Pregnant? Cake. Bored? Cake. Rainy day reading smut? Cake.

Peering inside, I see movement in the back where the kitchen must be, so I knock loudly. A young girl cautiously walks out holding a piping bag. She’s covered in flour and icing. “We don’t open until seven am,” she hollers.

Is she already baking cakes at this hour?

“Please, I just need a cupcake,” I yell back. “Or a slice of cake. Hell, I’ll take a cake pop!”

She frowns and looks back at the darkened glass case at the counter. “Hang on a sec.”

Hope bubbles inside me when she walks away and comes back with a hot pink box. Unlocking the door, she opens it and sticks the box out for me to take. “This is all I have left.”

“Thank you so much! Here,” I hold out a twenty.

“No, no. It’s fine.” She quickly shuts the door and locks it again, waving me off before heading back to the kitchen.

I cradle that sucker like it’s a newborn kitten. Hurrying back to the car, I get in and present the dessert like it’s the golden ticket to Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory. “I got it!”

Mason chuckles. “How can cake make you this happy?”

“It’s not the cake. It’s you. Cake is just a bonus. A mystery bonus. I have no clue what’s inside this thing.” I pop the top off and we both look inside.

Dear God, noooooo.

It’s carrot cake.

Mason laughs so loud he shakes the entire car.

Fucking carrots in my cake. And raisins! I have no words. “I don’t appreciate the universe’s sense of humor here.” But I pluck that damn thing out of the container and hold it up to his mouth. “You first.”

He chomps down on it and starts chewing. “Mmm. It’s actually pretty good.”

I take a little nibble, pleasantly surprised that it’s nothing like I thought it would be. “Oh, this is kinda nice.” Flicking a raisin out of the way, I chomp on a bigger bite. “Okay, it’s really good.”

Mason licks icing off his top lip. “You’re adorable.”

Shoulders lifting, I bat my lashes at him. “I know.”